BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to visit Washington next week for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and trade issues, according to official information from the German government on Saturday.
Merz, the newly appointed German leader who took charge of Europe’s largest economy on May 6, is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on Thursday. This meeting marks their first face-to-face encounter.
The planned discussions are expected to cover themes of bilateral interest, such as Russia’s ongoing military aggression in Ukraine, developments in the Middle East, and international trade policies.
Since assuming leadership, Merz has been actively involved in diplomatic initiatives to help broker a ceasefire in Ukraine and ensure continued Western support for the Ukrainian cause. Recently, on Wednesday, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin as part of his efforts.
Germany is particularly keen to reduce trade frictions between the European Union and the United States. President Trump had previously threatened a significant 50% tariff on goods coming from the 27-nation EU bloc starting Sunday, although he has since delayed the move until July 9.